A former missionary/pastor from Abbotsford has been sentenced to seven months in prison for attempting to abduct a 12-year-old boy by offering to buy him some new shoes.
Patrick Marini, 71, was also given three years' probation on Tuesday in Abbotsford provincial court.
Marini was convicted in January of attempting to entice a child away from his parent.
The incident occurred on June 25, 2013 at Clearbrook Library on George Ferguson Way.
Marini approached a boy who was reading some books and told the boy that his shoes looked worn. Marini asked the boy to come with him to buy some new ones.
The boy testified that Marini made the request about three times, but walked away when the boy insisted his shoes were fine.
A woman who witnessed the interaction reported the matter to library staff, who identified Marini from his library card and then called police.
Marini was previously charged – in March 2012 – with sexual offences against a 15-year-old Abbotsford boy and pleaded guilty two months later to sexual interference, receiving a conditional sentence (house arrest).
Marini was charged with breaching his conditional sentence order in relation to the matter at Clearbrook Library and next appears in court on May 23 on that charge.
His conditions included that he not have contact with anyone 16 years and under.
An online profile formerly described Marini as a missionary/pastor who has ministered in Canada, the U.S., India, Africa and Europe. He previously lived in Ontario and Saskatchewan.